Led by Dr Marijana Baric and Dr Jade Stalker, this project examines equality, diversity and inclusion within a sector that is critical to the UK’s net zero ambitions but continues to face persistent workforce and skills challenges.
The research is a collaborative programme between ARU and the University of East Anglia, delivered in close partnership with industry bodies including the Offshore Wind Industry Council and RenewableUK.
Drawing on a multi-year, mixed-methods approach, the project explores how inclusion is experienced across offshore, onshore and office-based roles, and where well-intentioned EDI commitments break down in practice. Through interviews, surveys and participatory engagement with developers, operators and the supply chain, the research foregrounds employee voice and lived experience, with particular attention to gender, neurodiversity and intersectional inequalities.
A core strand of the work examines how job design, safety systems, informal norms and organisational practices shape access to opportunity, retention and progression within a highly regulated and operationally demanding environment. The project translates research findings into practical, sector-specific guidance aligned with industry people and skills strategies, supporting more inclusive, resilient and sustainable workforce development in offshore wind and contributing to debates on just transitions and the future of work in green industries.